Shoe-lace fastening.



No. 762,293. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

F. B. 'EVINS, JR.

SHOE LACE FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1903.

H0 IODBL;

Attorneys.

Patented June 14,

PATENT OFFICE;

FRANK B. EVINS, JR, OF EDDYVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SHOE-LACE FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,293, dated June 14,1904.

. Application filed July 29,1903. Serial No. 167,448. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

' Beit known that I, FRANK B. EvINs,-Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Eddyville, in the county of Lyon and State ofKentucky, have invented a new and useful Shoe- Lace Fastening, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to lacing-hooks for shoes.

The object of the invention is in a ready, simple, and positive mannerto obviate the catching of the bottom hem of trousers-legs or othergarments with the lacinghooks; furthermore, to obviate any change in theconstruction of the shoe-lacing hooks now in use in attaching the deviceof the present invention thereto.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel'construction and combination of parts of a lacing-hook for shoes,as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,there is illustrated one form of embodiment-of the invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thespirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of a portion of aright-hand shoe-upper, showing the same equipped with the lacing-hook ofthis invention, the lacing being omitted. Fig. 2 is a similar view of aportion of a left-hand shoe-upper, showing the lacing positioned withinthe hook. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section, taken on the line 3 3,Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow thereon. Fig. 4: is adetail perspective view of the guard. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of theguard." Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof.

The device of this invention embodies a lacing-hook 1, of the usual orany preferred construction and provided with a tubular shank 2 to beseated in the upper and a guard 3, the function of which is to overlapthe free end of the hook, and'thus obviate liability of a garmentcatching thereon. The guard comprises a flat body portion 4 and a curvedshield portion 5, the parts being integral, the end of the body oppositethe shield being provided with an arcuate recess 6 to present stops 7and 8, which operate to limit the movement of the guard when associatedwith the hook, as will presently appear. The shield is disposed at anangle to the body portion, and its terminal 9 is arranged approximatelyin a plane parallel with the body, thus to cause it when the lacing isdrawn taut to lie close to the outer face of the lacing-hook and presenta neat and finished appearance. The object for disposing the shield atan angle to the body portion is to cause its terminal to be disposed onthe under side of the lacing-hook, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and thus present aguard which will positively prevent entanglement ofthe lacinghook with the hem of trousers-legs or other garments. Arrangedintermediate of the lower side of the guard is a stud 10, which isadapted to fit loosely within the eyelet-opening of the lacing-head, thestud being of such length as to prevent the guard from beingdisconnected from the hook in use, it being seen that before the studcan leave the eyeletopening the inner face of the lacing-hook willengage with the body portion of the guard, and thus check its outwardmovement. By having the stud 1O loosely mounted in the eyelet-opening ofthe lacing-head the terminal 9 of the guard will automatically drop awayfrom the lacing-hook head, and thus permit ready insertion between thelatter and the guard of the shoe-lacing; but when the lacing is drawntaut it will bear upon the stops, and thus cause the terminal 9 to lieclose to the lacing-hook head. The arcuate recess 6 will be of such sizeas to allow ample room for play of the stops on each side of the neckportion of the lacing-hook, so that any binding between the parts willbe obviated, and the insertion of the lacing within the hook will befacilitated.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the lacing-hook is ofthe ordinary construction, and tocombine one of the guards of thisinvention therewith it will be only necessary to pry or lift the headaway from the eyelet, then insert the stud in the eyelet, and againreturn the lacing-hook head to its normal position. Of course thisprocedure obtains where the guard is to be combined with an eyeletalready positioned upon the shoe, it being contemplated to sell theguard as an article of manufacture to be positioned upon the shoe by ashoemaker. Where the lacing-hook is sold as an article of manufacturewith the guard combined, the latter will be assembled with the hook atthe factory.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with alacing-hook, of a guard loosely assembledtherewith and having its free end extended past the lower edge and overthe top of the hook.

2. The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard assembled therewithand haying one end curved and extended past the lower edge and over thetop of the hook.

The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard loosely assembledtherewith and provided at one end with stops, and at its opposite endwith a curved extension which projects past the lower edge and over thetop of the hook.

A. The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard loosely assembledtherewith and provided at one end with stops, and at its opposite endwith an angularly-disposcd curved extension, the free end of whichprojects past the lower edge and over the top of the hook.

5. The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard loosely assembledtherewith and provided at one end with stops arranged on each side ofthe neck of the lacing-hook head, and at its other end with anangularly-disposed curved extension which projects over the top of thehook.

6. The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard comprising a Hat bodyportion provided with stops and with a curved extension disposed at anangle to the body portion and having its terminal projected over the topof the hook and in approximately parallelism with the body portion.

7 The combination with a lacing-hook, of a guard comprising a fiat bodyportion provided at one end with stops, at its other end with a curvedextension disposed at an angle to the body portion and projected overthe top of the hook, and intermediate of its ends with a stud adaptedfor loose engagement with the eyelet of the lacing-hook head.

8. A lacing-hook having a tubular shank, and a guard having a studloosely to engage the shank and provided at one end with stops disposedon each side of the neck of the lacing-hook head, and at its oppositeend with an angularly-disposed curved extension projected over the topof the hook.

9. A lacing-hook having a tubular shank, and a guard having a studloosely mounted in the shank and provided with a lip overlapping the topof the hook.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a guard for shoe lacing hookscomprising a body portion provided at one end with stops, at itsopposite end with a curved extension disposed at an angle to the lengthof the body portion and having its terminal arranged approximatelyparallel therewith, and intermediate of its ends with a stud.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a guard for shoe-lacing hookscomprising a flat body portion provided atone end with stops, at itsopposite end with a curved extension disposed at an'angle to the lengthof the body portion and having its terminal arranged approximatelyparallel therewith, and intermediate of its ends with a stud.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK B. EVINS, JR. Witnesses:

J. S. NALL, S. N. LEONARD

